Plea in Supreme Court to halt Kerala LDF Govt public swearing-in, ban all public gatherings with more than 50 people throughout India for a month

A petition has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking ban on the upcoming public swearing-in ceremony of recently elected Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala .The petition by activist KM Shahjahan filed through advocate Usha Nandini sought directions to the Kerala government to abide by the Covid -19 protocol and ban all public gatherings, political and religious functions, agitations and protests.The petitioner also prayed for a direction to be issued to the Central government and all the States to issue a uniform Standard Operating Procedure strictly banning any kind of public gathering with more than fifty people for a minimum period of one month. The swearing-in of the Pinarayi Vijayan-led ministry is slated to take place on May 20 at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram and is likely to be attended by 500 people..The petitioner claimed that a temporary pandal with a width of 80,000 square feet is being constructed for the same. ."Permitting such a huge gathering at a time when the spread of Covid-19 is beyond imagination is an impermissible course which is violative of the constitutional rights of persons who are participating though they are inviting the risk on their own. It may also be stated that the services of thousands of workers have been utilized for the construction of the ‘Pandal’ and they will be spreading Covid without knowing that they are affected by covid while engaging in the construction," the petition said..The plea stated that Kerala is spending huge amounts from the State exchequer for organizing a super spreader public event to show its strength and celebrate its victory in the recently held election (which was also one of the reason for the recent spike in the Covid -19 cases in the State).."The reckless act of conducting the public swearing-in ceremony by the Government of Kerala in violation of the very same law and protocols, which it forcibly enforces on the public, is a clear abuse of power and would only result is further spread of the dreaded disease, putting the life of the people of Kerala in jeopardy," the plea said. .The petitioner further submitted that politicians are refusing to support the lockdown restrictions and that the only remedy available is judicial intervention of Supreme Court banning all kinds of public gatherings exceeding more than 50 people throughout the nation for a minimum period of one month..The plea also stated that political leaders in power have been repeatedly flouting lock-down norms while making farce appeals to people not to participate in their functions and seeking physical distancing, which is a clear instance of ‘the fence grazing the crops’, which warrants a positive interference by the top court..The petitioner asked the Court to issue directions to call off the public swearing-in with any number of attendees above 75 or conduct it via virtual medium. .The petitioner also prayed for the Kerala Chief Secretary to be served a show cause notice for failure to adhere to COVID-19 SOP.